Is there anything cuter than a puppy? They’re adept at worming their way into our hearts. One look from those big, beautiful eyes and we melt. Their antics and even the mischief they get up to are all easy to forgive.
For all their cuteness, they can also have some pretty annoying traits. Perhaps none is more concerning than seeing your puppy nipping and biting. Depending on their level of teeth, your fur baby’s bite can breach your pain threshold.
When they start attacking your shoes, you’re willing to give them a little leeway. After all, it’s just a phase that every new puppy goes through. As your pup gets older and the damage starts increasing, though, you’ll find yourself looking for an answer to, “How to get my puppy to stop biting.”
In this article, we’re going to teach you how to train your toothy little monster to control it’s desire to bite and nip. Perhaps most importantly we want to prevent this habit from continuing when they are adult dogs.
Why Does My Puppy Bite?
There are a few reasons that puppies may bite. The most common one is that they’re curious, and this is another way to explore their world. There is an element of natural puppy curiousity.
Similar to human babies, they’re also likely to chew things if they’re teething as a way of relieving the discomfort as they cut their baby teeth.
They may also nip playfully at each other or you from time to time. Nipping is not an indication of aggression; it’s just that the little fellers don’t know any better.
Sometimes pups may resort to biting out of frustration, or when they’re frightened. If they precede the bite by a growl, they ate you because you ignored a warning.
How to Teach My Puppy to Stop Biting Aggressively
Get a handle on biting behavior. Teach your puppy that nipping is not acceptable. Here are some techniques that get the message across without causing the dog distress. You should never yell at him or smack him as this can create fear in him.
30 years ago, it was popular to think that allowing a dog to gently bite human skin would be teaching the dog to be harmful and aggressive. It is now the belief that dogs can discern the difference between playfulness and aggression, meaning that allowing a puppy to gently put her teeth on skin will not necessarily lead to aggression later.
Bite Inhibition
In a pack, puppies learn bite inhibition naturally while playing together. They learn that they bite too hard when the other pup yelps. Emulate this behavior by letting him bite you. When he chomps down too hard, let out a high-pitched yelp and make your hand limp.
Play Time
When playing with your puppy, try not to get too rough as that may encourage biting. Gentle play wrestling and a game of tug can be fun, but make sure your puppy does not get overstimulated.
How to Use Bite Inhibition
When you’re playing with your puppy, follow the example of littermates (even if they are not there). Allow your puppy to romp and play a little as long as it doesn’t really hurt you. Whenever a consistent correction isn’t administered for inappropriate behavior, the dog will learn that it can behave inappropriately without much repercussion.
If the pup continues on its wrongdoings, immediately and decisively reprimand the dog by firmly saying “no” and walking away momentarily from playing. For the best effect, try repeating this process every time your puppy nips or chews on you since being certain is a vital step in training your dog. If treated appropriately, your pet will only learn how to act appropriately through repetitive and consistent training.
Redirect
Redirection takes some planning. If your pup tries to bite you, pull your hand away before he has a chance. You want to avoid seeing your puppy nipping on your skin. Immediately give him a treat or toy to redirect his energy to. This is an especially good tactic if your dog is an aggressive chewer.
Distraction
Choosing the right toys gives your pup something to chew. A toy that allows you to hide a treat inside works well here. Choose toys that make your pup work hard mentally as well. Mental stimulation can go a long way to helping your pup channel her energy in a positive way.
Socialization
Arranging a play date for your dog will allow him to be socialized. The other dogs will soon teach your pup when they’re chomping down too hard.
Deterrence
You can also find products that taste terrible to discourage your dog from chewing. Place a little of the product on a cotton puff and give it to them. They’ll spit it out and smell it. Now you’ll need to apply the product to the items you don’t want him to bite.
Some Extra Help Training Your Dog
Below is an excellent resource by trainer Zak George, with three very simple techniques for helping your puppy to stop biting you aggressively.
What if My Puppy Still Bites?
Your pup will take a while to get the hang of things. It could take days, or even a couple of weeks for him to learn. You should see some sort of improvement over that time. If he’s not improving at all, or the behavior starts escalating, it’s worth getting him evaluated by a professional trainer.
A professional dog trainer can establish if there are issues of underlying aggression or fear. They’ll also be able to advise you on alternate training techniques.
Advanced puppy training classes might also provide some relief for you.
Which Puppy Breed is Least Aggressive?
According to a recent study, retrievers are least likely to bite. The study was conducted primarily because retrievers were being used as family pets more often and there was not much data available on breeds that would be appropriate for families with babies and children living in the homes.
Because of the way they’ve been bred, retrievers have soft mouths which means they won’t bite you even when irritated. In other words, their paws are very gentle and snug around things rather than lifting or jerking them upwards – perfect for those clumsy moments with toddlers!
Some Practical Help for Teething Puppies
Whether your puppy has just started nipping or you have been having trouble training them as they have gotten older, there’s still time to teach your pup. You can still train your dog with the following tips:
Tips on Handling Teething Puppies
Use Teething Toys
When a bone isn’t enough, substitute a chew toy when your dog nibbles your toes or fingers and seems to enjoy teeth on skin a little too much. You may want to stick with plastic or rubber if your puppy can shred other toys in mere seconds.
Get Puppy Classes
A professional dog trainer can help discipline your dog if you’re having a hard time doing it yourself. Many online pet training classes offer unlimited advice to address any problems.
Avoid Rough Play
Do not encourage rough play with your puppy. Always stop playtime when they have bitten you hard. This gives them a signal that biting that hurts others is never okay. Immediately distract them when this happens.
Provide Mental Stimulation
It could be that your puppy is bored and is looking for mental stimulation. Make sure you haven’t left your puppy alone for too long during the day. Where possible, provide your puppy with company and care.
Take him for regular walks. Carefully socialize your puppy with well-behvaed dogs to model natural behavior. Providing your puppy with opportunities for good behavior may help prevent bad behavior.
Not Sure If Your Puppy is Teething?
Did you know there are actually 5 stages of puppy teething as they develop their adult teeth? Knowing what stage of teething your puppy is at can help you know if the biting is a temporary phase due to teething, or a much more serious issue of underlying aggression.
When Should You Be Concerned About Biting in Puppies?
When you have an older pup who is growling before he bites, it’s a sign that they are starting to exhibit aggressive behavior. If your dog doesn’t know that they are biting too hard or snarls whenever they do it, it could be a sign that you need professional help.
You can still stop your puppy from biting unnecessarily if you model gentleness and reward good behavior. Avoid punishing or yelling at your dog so that you don’t encourage aggressiveness. Your puppy will need gentle but constant guidance from you.
Conclusion
When it comes to training your pup, patience, and positive reinforcement are the keys. Shouting at your pup, or spanking them when they bite will damage their trust in you. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is a lot more effective.
It’s your job to raise a well-balanced pup. Teach the puppy in the same way his pack mates would have in nature. Alternatively, use good old distraction tactics to teach the puppy to focus that energy elsewhere.
Be patient with him, and he’ll soon understand what he needs to do.
Also read:
5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Getting a Dog
Why does my puppy have hiccups?
Aspects of juvenile and adolescent environment predict aggression and fear in 12-month-old guide dogs by JA Serpell
Analysis of correlations between early social exposure and reported aggression in the dog by D Wormald
Association between puppy classes and adulthood behavior of the dog by Á González-Martínez
